Suma (co-operative)

Suma (co-operative)

Suma is the trading name of the Triangle Wholefoods Collective Ltd, a worker co-operative incorporated as an industrial and provident society. It was founded in Leeds in 1975 and is now based in Elland, West Yorkshire. It is the largest independent wholefood wholesaler in the United Kingdom. The co-operative specializes in vegetarian, fairly traded, organic, ethical, ecological and natural products.

Its turnover for the year to 30 September 2007 was reported as £23,934,267, ranking it 51st among British co-operatives. In the 'Co-operative UK 100' for 2012 it had risen to 49th place with a turnover of £26.6m.

Despite its trading volume, it is notable for being Britain's largest collectively organised co-operative, in that it still avoids hierarchy and practices equal pay and job rotation despite employing some 150 people